Moscow (South24)

Russia affirmed its support for a comprehensive national dialogue in Yemen that takes into account the legitimate concerns of all leading political forces, including the form of state.

This came during a meeting between Russian officials with the head of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), Aidaroos Al-Zubaidi, and his high-ranking delegation, today, Monday, at the Foreign Ministry's headquarters in the capital, Moscow.

“The Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia M.L. Bogdanov, received on February 1, the President of the Yemeni STC, Aidaroos Al-Zubeidi,” a statement published on the official website of the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said that "the current military, political and humanitarian situation in the Republic of Yemen and its southern provinces was discussed in detail, with a focus on the priorities of the newly formed coalition government, which for the first time included representatives of the STC."

According to the Foreign Ministry, "great attention has been paid to looking into possibilities for a complete cessation of hostilities in Yemen, as well as establishing a dialogue in accordance with the Riyadh Agreement concluded on November 5, 2019, between the joint delegation of the official Yemeni authorities and the STC leadership with Ansar Allah Al-Houthi movement."

On the Russian side, "It was emphasized that the comprehensive national dialogue, which takes into account the legitimate interests and concerns of all leading Yemeni political forces, is the only one capable of providing a permanent solution to the many problems facing the republic, including the issue of the regional state structure," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

General Aidaroos Al-Zubaidi said that, "this meeting represents an opportunity to remmeber the history of friendship, brotherhood and cooperation between the South and the Russian Federation..."

The southern delegation with the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister at the Foreign Ministry in Moscow, Monday, February 01, 2021 (official)

According to the Council, Al-Zubaidi stressed the importance of the Riyadh Agreement and the opportunity it represents towards the normalization of conditions, the return of services and the achievement of a comprehensive peace process.

Read more at: Delegation from South Yemen arrives in Moscow to meet high-level Russian leaders

He also stressed at the same time "the need to involve the South as a key party in the comprehensive political process sponsored by the United Nations."

"Any attempt to leave the south and its legitimate cause will fail,” Al-Zubaidi said, according to the council’s official website.

The STC delegation affirmed its "adherence to the goals and aspirations of the southern people and their right to self-determination, restore their identity and build their independent state on its borders before May 21, 1990."

It is decided that the meetings between the two parties will include officials in the State Duma, the Federal Council, and Russian scientific and research institutions.

This is Zubeidi's second official visit to the Russian Federation, after a previous visit to the capital, Moscow, in March 2019.